Audio from Tuesday practice

After a day off following their win over the Rangers, your Montreal Canadiens returned to the practice ice in Brossard Tuesday morning to prepare their first game of the season against the Washington Capitals.

Ryan White won’t play Wednesday but is getting closer.

Travis Moen and Tomas Plekanec are practicing after sustaining knacks against the Rangers Sunday night.

I just want to go on the record as saying that Price is NOT worth 10 million for even one season, let alone 10.
And before the Pricebots attack, I would say the same for any goalie in the league. Or any other player. Just too much.

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☞ “Talent is a gift from God, but you only succeed with hard work. Yvan was proof of that.” – Jean Beliveau. ☜

Coach Martin, sitting there with Carboneau, Therien, and Tremblay, made me realize how much talent the Habs have had behind the bench, aswell as on the ice.

This man, had remarkable insight, and experience that half of the posters on this site couldnt possibly begin to appreciate or understand.

Kinda reminds me of a philosophy, when someone shares an idea regardless, of its merits, it gets echoed by the masses.

The ideas, of the coach playing to defend leads which was argued over and over, or questioning his use of power play, or penalty kill units were absurd.

He was by far the reason the Habs were holding themselves above water, with the lack of Markov, and its AHLish defensive core, which ultimately lead to the death of the PP.

This is not to say RC is not of great potential, but this team would of kept its head above water to fight another day, if Martin had remained at the helm.

Now being 8 points out, were left in a semi shock state of almost no chance of achieving the playoffs.

Then when the questions focused on media, it was made clear, no individual is immune to any social form. Not player, nor coach, not anyone. And ultimately pressure forced the GM’S hand to make choices, the masses would make you believe are correct but were reactionary.

Maybe, but unlikely it might be time to think about your thoughts before sharing ones that ultimately cause no benefit. Instead contribute likely to some demise.

Its clear this organization is in need of someone with that poise, and insight, if its ever going to recapture the magic of its glorious past.

I couldn’t agree more about JM. I really feel he got a raw deal from most. A lot of talk about Jaro and Cammy getting us to the ECF, but JM never gets his due.
A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.

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Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.
— Augustine of Hippo

youre whole statement (+24 teams) is why this team will never return to glory. the best hockey in the world comes out of ontario. PERIOD. i hate it almost as much as you but it is what it is. muller, gretzky, shall i say, MORENZE!!

Yeah. Sure. I mean, the Habs were doing so well with Martin, it’s pretty unfathomable that he was let go. Listen, the idea that the Habs were going to make the playoffs with Martin … that’s just kooky. Based on recent history, they were out of it on December 1st. This elegy of yours is understandable, given the dismal season that is continuing to unfold, but lets not get all revisionist and start pretending this was a good team under Martin.

Bill, I wasnt suggesting this was a good team under Martin. He however was doing an impeccable job a keeping them around 500, with the cast he had to work with.

Martin wasnt the problem, and Cunneyworth isnt the answer.

The defense is.

PG, didnt need to fire him, and needs to start making proactive decisions, instead of reactive decisions. He succombs to pressure more then most GM’s in the league. This team needs stability, not constant change. And PG’s knee jerk reactions are never going to offer that.

Unfortunately philosophy and insight have not resulted in tangible on ice success.

Martin, Carboneau Therrien and especially Tremblay were posterboys for coaches having deficient people skills which in the end were their undoing behind the Habs bench.

Carboneau would rather stare at his computer screen than look a player in the eye and speak. His players jumped the chain of command and went to Gainey over his lack of communication skills.

Think back to Therrien’s issues as a Junior coach, his meltdown behind the bench in the playoffs vs Carolina and his player issues in Pittsburgh.

Tremblay’s pettiness cost the Canadiens Roy and Keane and destroyed the team for 10 years(with a measure of assistance from Houle) while the departed pair went on to Stanley Cup success in Denver.

Martin’s downward spirol was catalysed by the departure of Muller; his great proxy communicator with the players and one person who challenged Martins’ dogmatic approach to game strategy and PP philosophy.

Bottom line, all the philosophy and hockey insight in the universe is wasted if you can’t get your message across or your credibility is questioned by your players.

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What does the Commissioner of the NHL do?

In short, a league commissioner is the action man for the Board of Governors.

They tell him what they want done and he works to make it happen through his subordinates while making sure that individual franchises play by the rules.

******** Translated if you haven’t won the Stanley Cup in 40 years your NHL team is becoming irrelevant in a sports mad city long behind MLB, NFL and NBA teams, you just tell the commissioner(who you gave a new contract at 7 plus million per) to make it happen and the rules are bent sufficiently to action the command.

Jim I do agree with you about having people skills, or communication skills as being a great asset in coaching, Im just not certain all of those coaches fail at it as you perceive them to.

But however, if thats the case, really Gauthier, and Gainey ultimately fail there also. Otherwise they wouldnt of given votes of confidence with extended contracts for both Martin, and Carboneau. Only to see they off within a year later.

This team needs stability, and if they keep shuffling, the team will never find it, thus therefore never achieving the confidence level needed to succeed.

The point is that all the Antichambre coaches are “ex” for similar reasons. Their deficiencies communication and in the cases of Carbo,Therrien and Tremblay a lacking of maturity got them all fired; in the case of Therrien twice!

Don’t remember Martin ever getting an extension.

He was still on his initial 4 year contract when he got canned.

Unfortunately players especially young players these days need solid support/coddling from their coaches or they fall apart mentally and lose focus.

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What does the Commissioner of the NHL do?

In short, a league commissioner is the action man for the Board of Governors.

They tell him what they want done and he works to make it happen through his subordinates while making sure that individual franchises play by the rules.

******** Translated if you haven’t won the Stanley Cup in 40 years your NHL team is becoming irrelevant in a sports mad city long behind MLB, NFL and NBA teams, you just tell the commissioner(who you gave a new contract at 7 plus million per) to make it happen and the rules are bent sufficiently to action the command.

I really miss when this was habs inside out. not too many people just throwing their minds’ shites against the wall. now everyone is in contention for gm. its just a game, Golden Arse Shite predictions.

I grew up in Orangeville Ontario, approx 50min North West of Toronto, and I am pretty sure I remember a few years ago a man from there working on a skate blade that would not cut people if they were accidentally hit with them. It was apparently a good enough blade to play elite level hockey with, but did not cause major cuts to flesh. He had support of some people in the game and I believe one or two teams may have had their players test them out. I remember Don Cherry bringing it up on coaches corner once. Not sure what ever became of it though.

Dave, the mods deleting your posts, is you getting away with Bruins like infractions…. Sweeping them under a rug.

People react in different ways to the Habs sucking, and yes they suck. And yes, part of me wants them to tank. But tanking AND allowing Carey and or Subban to leave for picks ? Is a bit much… No ? constantly stating Carey is not worth 10 Million (I agree) over ten years, is really annoying and redundant.

Bill: the policy/rule regarding posts is that “there is a zero-tolerance policy regarding racism, profanity and behaviour that we deem to be offensive.” Such posts may (perhaps should) be deleted but not posts that are merely “annoying and redundant” as you put it. If HardHabits wishes to repeat a point ad nauseum so be it. Other posters are posting over and over that Montreal should “tank.” I am getting tired of reading that again and again and again, but I would never counsel those posts be deleted.

Just so people don’t get their hopes up, I should remind everyone that every year we expect alot of noise at the deadline and nothing ever happens. I expect more or less the same thing to happen this year. At most one small deal. Expect PG just to let players contracts expire.

Tradition is nice but sometimes it can stand in the way of a team’s evolution. It can resist change when it’s change that should be embraced. Tradition is what’s holding back the Canadiens, the one about winning. That’s a lot to expect of a team year after year after decade.
Well, it’s time the club torched tradition, and fire wagon hockey – remember that – and hold a fire sale. That’s right: Sell, sell, sell. No player’s untouchable. Just call Pete ‘Have I Got a Deal for You’ Gauthier at 1-800-HAB-SALE. You won’t be disappointed! Sure, the fans will be … for now. But not in five years. Five years! That’s not so long.
Call 1-800-HAB-SALE.

Thanks, Marie. So these are the printouts of HIO posts for the last week? You highlighted all the trade talk and suggested deals? Good. Nice work. Stick around. I’ll be needing your help once I’ve gone through this.
Okay, what have we got here. Hmmm mmm … hmmm mmm … ooh, hadn’t thought of that one … yeah, that makes sense … no way they’d go for that … or would they? … now this one would be my pièce de résistance if I could swing it! … ha, ha, ha, and this one would be a pièce de crap … unless I got a first round pick to go with … hmmm mmm …yep … yep … yep … Subban AND Price, that’s a new one … okay, time to bite the bullet.
MARIE! I want you to set up a conference call with, let’s see … Snow, Bowman, Sherman, Nieuwendyk, Holland, Boyle, McPhee, and Maloney … I think that covers it … aw, what the heck, Burke, too, don’t want him to feel left out … and could you give me a photocopy of all our players’ home and cell phone numbers, I’ll probably be making a few calls later tonight.

Would be silly to expect anything else, but JM not revealing much so far. He mentioned the Kaberle trade was starting to pay dividends, a PP goal in 3 consecutive games. So, not about to say what could I do with such a soft player on defense…?
Thought the team had turned the corner when Gauthier made the decision. He’s been watching the Habs play, not every game. Disappointed his goal of winning the cup won’t be achieved in this go around. Come on, wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
I am surprised to hear JM wasn’t told Cunny was going to get the job.
Carbonneau seems/sounds more hurt still today than JM does, by far…

Skinner rocked again tonight by Orpik after just coming back from a concussion. They should shut him down for the year, but he will probably be back next game which is sad. This is the risk when you let teenagers play with men. I`m glad Montreal left Gallagher and Beaulieu in Junior.